05/11/2014
The Heart Shopping Centre will take centre stage at this year’s food festival in Walton-on-Thames. The Food Festival will take place Saturday 31 May and will be bigger and better with over 60 specialists food stalls filling Walton-on-Thames high street and The Heart. The Heart will also host a series of special events, such as celebrity chef demonstrations, free masterclass workshops, food sampling, competitions and a Kids’ Club workshop.
The art of summer cooking will be presented to Walton’s keen foodies by celebrity chefs Mark Lloyd, Cathryn Dresser and Johnny Pustzai.
Mark Lloyd has appeared on television shows such as the River Cottage as part of his tenure as Head Chef, as well as The Hairy Bikers. Cathryn Dresser was a contestant on series three of The Great British Bake-off and continues to be an avid baker as well as a presenter for the BBC Good Food Show. Johnny Pustzai is butcher extraordinaire and king of the BBQ.
Throughout the weekend shoppers and foodies alike will be able to take part in free masterclass workshops, with the celebrity chefs passing on their expert knowledge and offering classes such as cheese making, sausage making, home smoking, cake decorating, chocolate, burger making and cake decorating. Masterclasses can be booked in advance at heartshopping.co.uk/foodfestival2014 and are free to attend for all visitors, with many of the classes accommodating the whole family.
The food festival also wants to find Walton’s best baker with Walton’s very own Cake-off. Locals are invited to put their baking skills to the test and whip up their finest, most creative and delicious cake. All entries must be submitted by 1pm on Saturday 31 May to the competition tent in The Heart Plaza ready for Cathryn Dresser to put her knowledge to the test and pick Walton’s baking champions.
Children will also be able to take part with the Kids’ Club workshop between 11am – 4pm where kids decorate their own cookies and cupcakes to take home and enjoy.
Centre Manager Mark Middleton said “We are really excited that this year’s food festival is going to be even bigger and better. With the fantastic support of the town the event is a Walton-on-Thames wide food festival with wonderful produce stalls available throughout The Heart and the high street. The Heart will host the celebrity chef cooking demonstrations and workshops, Kids’ Club workshop as well as sampling from some of our own retailers, plus an exclusive summer dining competition. It’s going to be a superb day for food lovers!”
Walton Business Group Director Sarah-Jane Shellard commented, “The WBG is delighted to be working with The Heart to support this exciting event for the whole town, celebrating summer cooking and a taste of Walton-on-Thames. It promises to be a great day, with plenty on offer for the whole family”.
For more information visit www.heartshopping.co.uk/foodfestival2014